anyhow

American  

[en-ee-hou] / ˈɛn iˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in any way whatever.

2. in any case; at all events.

3. in a careless manner; haphazardly.

---

anyhow British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in any case; at any rate

2. in any manner or by any means whatever

3. in a haphazard manner; carelessly

---

Etymology

Origin of anyhow

First recorded in 1730–40; any + how ¹

Compare meaning

How does anyhow compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anyhow vs. anyway

Explanation

Use the adverb anyhow to emphasize or support something you've just said. You might say, "I'm not going to bother studying those dates for history class — they're not going to be on the test anyhow." The word anyhow is usually just another way to say anyway. You could say, for example, "I won't be going for a run today, not if it's as hot as yesterday anyhow." Another way to use anyhow is to mean "in a haphazard way" or "randomly." Your mom might complain that people just toss things in the fridge anyhow. The word has been used in American English since the mid-1700s.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anyhow

Derek McInnes is experienced and wily and hard working, but his team is not a smart team, not yet anyhow.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Similarly, Likho, a one-eyed Russian Blue, also was ailing when Kobilha took him in at 8 years old, but she wanted him anyhow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Most people can focus only for three or four hours at a stretch, anyhow, so trying to work for eight solid hours isn’t really an effective use of your attention span.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026

Whether he was faking it then or is faking it now is almost irrelevant anyhow.

From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2024

Little girl, your honesty and pluck have made me a friend, and that’s rarer than a lover; it’s more unselfish anyhow.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• anyway